Under Investigation (Viverescribere x Second Heartbeat)

Viverescribere

Always looking to write
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Preferred Character Gender
  1. Male
  2. Female
  3. Primarily Prefer Female
Genres
Fantasy, Historical, Magical, Romance (usually within other genres), Dystopia,.





Eleanor Marie Garcia


Eleanor Marie Garcia woke with her alarm, as per usual. She rolled over to slide the 'off' icon to the centre of her phone, as per usual. She then rolled back into her spot, facing up at the ceiling to stretch out her arms and legs, as per usual.

What was not usual was the body that laid in bed beside her.

The young woman turned her head to look at the naked figure that was sprawled out on the other side of the bed, eyebrow raising as she propped herself up onto her elbows. She was surprised he had stayed over, considering they both had a rule about that sort of thing. Fuck Buddies 101, never sleep over. Snorting softly, she pushed herself out of bed without a care for modesty to grab her towel from where it hung on the back of her bedroom door. With a yawn, she wrapped it around herself, casting a final look to the man in her bed before slipping out of her bedroom to head down the hall for a shower.

It wasn't long before Eleanor was leaving a note for the man in her bed to help himself to a shower and breakfast foods, along with a spare key for him to lock her apartment door with before slipping it into the letterbox downstairs. She would have to ask him what compelled him to stay the night, since it was always him that pressed their 'no sleeping over' rule and repeated it over and over again.

Stifling a yawn, Eleanor made her way to the underground car park to get into her vehicle, starting it, and heading off to work.



It was a big day for Eleanor, and probably one she shouldn't have had a FWB stay the night. She should have been preparing, looking over old case files and Academy study texts, but she was nervous, and had basically been revising all weekend ready for when Monday morning came around.

She had a new assignment. Therefore a new team. Not to mention she had been told she would be the only new addition to the team she had been assigned to. It was a case that had been under investigation for months; a spot had opened up and, according to her superior, she had proven herself in The Academy and with her previous workload. This would be her next real test, and this time there would be no room for error.

A trafficking ring, she had learned. Nasty business. It had made her stomach turn, reading the case files, and all she could imagine was if any of those involved were her sisters, being treated that way. That thought had her blood then boiling, causing her to lose that nausea and gain a fire of determination.

She was to report to her new team leader on Monday morning, so as she placed the lanyard around her neck with one hand - the other holding a secure, closed handbag with all she needed inside - Eleanor strode down the corridor towards her new office... at least for now. It was a secret relief to see that others in the office were also dressed similarly to she: casual business attire. That had been another thing she worried about, whether or not she would be dressed too casually or too smart. She needed to make a good first impression, she was determined to do so.

Her own outfit consisted of black cigarette trousers, a white blouse which was underneath a grey jumper with the collar pulled out, and a splash of colour with red heels. Her hair was tied back, at least for today, and make-up as it always was - neutral and natural.

Eventually Eleanor reached the office she had been told to report to, leaving her to clear her throat softly and straighten her shoulders. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, but the young woman stepped up to the door to knock carefully against it. Once summoned in, she opened the door to stick her head in, "Agent Haner? I'm Eleanor Garcia, I believe I've been assigned to your case--"


@Second Heartbeat


Eleanor Marie Garcia


NAME
Eleanor Marie Garcia
NICKNAME/S
El || Ellie ||
BIRTHPLACE
Anaheim, Los Angeles ||
BIRTHDATE
8 October 1995 ||
AGE
25 ||
NATIONALITY
American ||
EDUCATION
High School || College || University || The Academy ||
OCCUPATION
FBI Agent ||
TATTOOS
To the side of her right breast || Quote on left ribcage || Right hip ||
PIERCINGS
Left ear || standard lobe x1 ||
Right ear || standard lobe x1 ||
MARKINGS
Birthmark on left shoulder blade (medium) || birthmark on inside of left knee (small) || beauty spot on right edge of jaw, near chin || small scar over right hip, above groin, from stabbing when being mugged five years ago || small scar on the fleshy space between thumb and index finger from slicing it when chopping peppers two years ago ||
FACE CLAIM
Jessica De Gouw || Actress || Dracula || Arrow || Pennyworth ||



PERSONALITY
Sassy, sarcastic, strong and confident. Eleanor knows when to keep quiet but also when to speak up and voice her opinion. She may stay silent for the first meeting or so with people she is coming to know, but she isn't afraid to get stuck in and offer her thoughts on matters. Eleanor won't stand for anyone treating her like she is stupid, and definitely not like she's an assistant rather than the agent that she is. She's rather good at controlling her temper, but when her last button has been pushed, she will make it known.
LIKES
Beer (larger) - mainly Peroni || BBQ Chicken wings || NHL || Murder/mystery documentaries || Cheeseburgers || Dirty fries || Proving people wrong || Memory-foam pillows || An organised desk || Yankee candles scented linen, cherry or cotton || The colour red || The odd cigar || Old-fashioned typewriters || 20s, 40s and some 50s fashion || Whiskey with a splash of lemonade ||
DISLIKES
White chocolate || Ales || Sambuca shots || Spicy foods || Hot dogs || Being the only newbie || Being laughed at || Blue ink pens || Green ink pens || Being touched without giving permission || The smell of cheese and onion || The colour brown || Being called pet names || Being undermined || Vodka || Rum || Green beans ||
HOBBIES
Supporting the Anaheim Ducks || Going to the gym || Watching mystery/murder documentaries || Going through cold case files ||
TALENTS
Hand to hand || Marksmanship || Crochet || Embroidery ||
FEARS
Drowning || Crows/blackbirds || Someone dying on her watch ||
__________Background
FATHER
David Garcia || 52 || Detective at LAPD ||
MOTHER
Lisa Garcia || 50 || High School Teacher of English ||
SIBLINGS
Two younger sisters. Daisy is on a sports scholarship at College while Chloe is a senior in High School.
FRIENDS
Eleanor has a few friends that she continues to stay in touch with, but with how busy she is at work, she doesn't often have the chance to make the meet-ups they arrange.
EX-RELATIONSHIPS
A few romantic relationships, but nothing serious due to her work and long hours ||
PETS
A family dog and cat who live back in Anaheim with her family ||
OTHER RELATIONSHIPS
She's currently in a 'friends with benefits' which suits her just fine, thank you very much.
__________History
Eleanor probably had one of the most boring, mundane lives growing up, not that she would have wished for anything differently. She was born in Anaheim on 8 October, 1995 at 3.48am to Lisa and David Garcia. Her father used to joke that from there on in, she would be a night owl. As a baby, she seemed to sleep more during the day than she did in the night, which obviously made things a nightmare for her parents once they were off maternity and paternity leave.

However, as she grew up, Eleanor found her best work was done in the evenings and night time, often leaving her in the library at College and University way past midnight with cans of empty energy drinks to keep her company. After her time at University, where she studied Criminology, Eleanor spent two years in the LAPD as a rookie. She had a few arguments with her father about her time there, who had seen some of the worse sides of LA as his time as a detective in the force.

David Garcia wanted his daughter away from the career pathway as a cop or detective, his fears no ill-founded after Eleanor had been stabbed at the age of 20 during a mugging. She had been walking home from a night in the library at University, armed with only her phone, laptop, University ID and wallet which held a few loose, scrunched up dollar notes.

The stabbing luckily didn't cost her her life, but it did result in a night or two in the hospital, a handful of stitches and an overwhelming anxiety of leaving the house for a few months.

However, Eleanor was also fortunate to break free of that paranoia, realising that she wasn't about to let some criminal affect her life forever. So, with the help and support of her friends and family, she returned - through baby steps - back to her normal life. She attended lectures, returned to the library to work - but didn't stay so late, or if she did, she ensured to have a group with her.

During her time at LAPD, Eleanor found herself engaging and thriving within a fast, problem-solving and pressurised environment, and it wasn't long until she was offered a spot at the FBI Academy. She had believed it to be a mistake, having only been with the LAPD for two or so years, but upon discussing the opportunity with her Captain and her father, Eleanor knew it was best to take the opportunity with both hands.

At the Academy, Eleanor continued to excel in whatever she was thrown into. She plunged headfirst into each and every challenge, where she often came out on top. Her smaller stature meant she was a little less fortunate when it came to hand-to-hand combat, but with her research inside and outside the classroom, she was soon able to keep up with the best of them, even if her style was more defensive than offensive. She learned how to turn her weaknesses into strengths, and keep her strengths hidden until the time was right.

After graduating, she was treated with the same respect as any of her fellow graduates. However, she soon noticed she was getting called more pet names than others, and often touched without her permission more times than she liked. It began to irk her and thus Eleanor began to call people out on it, uncaring as to whether it made that person uncomfortable or not. Especially if they were the same rank as her. She didn't believe she ought to go along feeling uncomfortable because she didn't want to hurt someone's feelings, all because she wanted to keep her body to herself and be treated with the same respect as everyone else.

She wasn't anyone's sweetheart or doll or angel. She was an agent.

She would be treated as such.

Because of that, she earned a bit of a reputation for being a tough, no nonsense woman (though sometimes she heard the word bitch). However, Eleanor didn't care. She got the job done, and in her eyes, that was all that mattered. She worked well in a team, and wasn't rude. She simply called people out on their bullshit.




Hex Code: #25241e
 
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Rain.

It was pouring down harder than ever, and the little waves the sea usually made were being drowned out, diminished by the force of the raindrops hitting the otherwise so calm waters.

It was unusual for a storm this size to hit otherwise so sunny Huntington Beach, and it seemed like not only the storm brewing in the sky was a sign of the things that would soon happen.

The all too familiar gut feeling Brian Haner Jr. had as he stood outside of the building, he worked at was the clearest sign that something would happen soon.

The young male was well aware of that.

A much-needed cigarette clenched between his tattooed fingers as he tried to keep his thoughts in order, Brian sighed softly, his mind racing, going over the details of the last case file he had just read.

Catching criminals was his job of choice, something he had always thrived on, loved to do.

It was what he lived and breathed for. Brian's job at the Federal Bureau of Investigation - more commonly known as the FBI - was something that gave the young man a sense of worth and the feeling that maybe he was leaving his footprint on this earth in a good way.

Of course, he was in constant danger, constant pressure of fucking up or letting the wrong people get away, but Brian's worries were short lived, especially if you'd ask his boss, Clark Henderson, about his performance. Brian excelled at what he did because he loved it.

Plain and simple.

The passion that drove him was beyond anything Brian had experienced in his life before, so he held onto even the worst cases and stayed up just that extra night longer to finish it all off to perfection.

But the wave that was about to hit Brian was bigger than what he could have ever imagined, and it was truly ironic - considering that the young agent was currently staring at the fight between rain and waves.

-

Finally tearing his gaze away from the sea and checking his watch, Brian bit his lip.

His break was as good as over, and it was time to get back to work for the young agent. Today, Brian had a new agent come in that was due to start in his squad, and from what Brian had been told, it was a woman. It was the first female Brian would have working with him, and even though he was excited about it, Brian hoped his men would behave.

He didn't need the girl to be intimidated or disgusted on the first day of her new job.

Putting out his smoke in the small ashtray next to the door, Brian made his way back into his assigned office, where his squad of five trusty agents was working away on the latest case they had gotten. It was a huge file, and from what Brian had gathered so far, they were dealing with a human trafficking ring that sold off women and even children to illegal brothels and had them work as prostitutes.

It was a mess, but Brian was determined. They could crack this case wide open easily if they worked at the best of their abilities.

"Brian, I think we got a lead... here, last week, a bunch of people went missing in the LA area... all of them young girls."

Walking over to one of Brian's agents - Elijah - Brian carefully examined what his colleague was showing him. He was right, it was suspicious as hell, and sitting down next to Elijah, Brian let a hand run through his hair. These girls had vanished without a trace, and it would be hard to find any clues.

"Hm... well, we should definitely check that out. Do we have any police reports on this?"

“Yeah, a few, but I’m sure there are more… want me to ring up the LAPD and see what I can get?”

The question wasn’t really anything that required much thought, and Brian nodded at Elijah as he stood up and took the file with him, retreating to his own desk. It wouldn’t be long now until the new squad member got here, and cracking his knuckles, Brian focused on the file in front of him while the other men were discussing stuff in the background.

“Dude, no way, that’s impossible… I think so, at least. Brian, you got a minute?!”

Brian was on first name basis with his squad members.

They weren't only his workmates, they were Brian's friends, and the six men had established a tight bond over the years of them working together. Brian's squad consisted of Elijah Reynolds, Joe Smith, Dan Abell, Gabriel Carter, Jordan Hayes and himself. The new addition of the team would round up the squad, and Brian's was excited to meet the new addition to their team today.

Standing up from where he was sitting, Brian made his way over to Gabriel, who had called out his name, and it seemed like the male was in quite a heated discussion with Joe. Shaking his head at them, Brian leaned against the table and looked at what the two males were arguing about.

“You two are worse than a married couple… what is it now?”

Before Gabriel could tell Brian what was up though, a soft knock could be heard on the door, and not long after Brian told the person to come in, a petite, brunette woman stuck her head in the room. Immediately knowing that it was the new squad member, Brian made his way over to the door, and reaching out his hand, Brian shook hers softly.

Needless to say, the young agent was pleasantly surprised at how his new squad member carried herself.

“Hello, Agent Garcia, and yes, you’ve found the right place. Come on in, let’s introduce you to everyone.”

Closing the door behind the woman after she had stepped in, Brian could see all eyes were on the girl already. Clearing his throat, the room full of men sat up straight in their seats, and smiling at Eleanor, Brian decided to help her out a bit with the introduction.

All of this had to be nerve wracking for the poor girl after all.

“Guys, this is our new squad member, Agent Garcia. I want you all to treat her with respect and treat her as one of our own, understood? Agent Garcia, these are Agent Reynolds, Agent Smith, Agent Abell, Agent Carter and Agent Hayes. You all keep working while I go over the basics with Agent Garcia, and we’ll join you again in a bit.”

The guys shouted their greetings and waved clumsily at Eleanor, and laughing softly as Brian led her to his desk, he was once again reminded of just how shy these guys were around women. Brian was sure that Eleanor was one of the guys in no time, though.

Motioning for her to sit down, Brian pulled out a file from his desk, and scanning it over, he bit his lip. Brian hated all this useless paperwork he had to do when someone joined, but what had to be done had to be done. It was protocol after all.

“Okay, Agent Garcia, we’ll have to go over a couple of things. My name is Special Agent Brian Haner Jr, and I’ll be your boss so to speak. If you need anything, you come to me first, alright? Now, we’ll have to do some standard stuff. Paperwork mostly. Then you can jump in and work on the case with us immediately. First off, are there any questions on your part? Anything you want to know or need help with?”
 





Eleanor Marie Garcia


Stepping into the office, Eleanor surveyed the space curiously as she tried to make sense of what she assumed was organised chaos. Her gaze flickered over the files and papers that were scattered around, a tension knot forming in her lower back. The young woman knew that it probably was all organised, but she just was incapable of seeing it because she didn't understand their filing or just simply their system of keeping things in check. However, Eleanor was a person who liked to keep things clean, sleek and smooth-running.

It was why her apartment was so modern-looking, with sharp lines and mainly black and white and greys/silvers. Of course, just like her outfit, she incorporated splashes of colour into her home living environment. But everything had a place and a purpose. That was how she liked it.

Clearing her throat, she was quick to throw out an easy-going smile to the men that greeted her, inclining her head to them as she did so.

Following her new superior, Eleanor settled into a chair in front of his desk, placing her handbag down beside her feet and crossing her legs at the knee. She was sure to give the agent in front of her her full attention, hands clasping together and locking around her knee as she waited for him to finish. She couldn't help but feel slight amusement at his practical grimace at the file in his hand, which she assumed would be the paperwork necessary to transition her into his team. But she kept it masked, she didn't need him to think she was laughing at him already.

"Not that I can think of, sir. But perhaps something that could help you?" Eleanor finally responded, unfolding her legs and leaning forward to reach her bag. Out she pulled a file, which would hold a copy of the paperwork that was inside the one he held. She offered it to him, alongside a smile that was all professionalism, "I filled in my sections on Friday afternoon once Special Agent Jenson informed me I would be transferring to your lot, sir. It's been signed off on his part, and all the necessary sections completed by myself. All it should need now is your stamp of approval - and by that I mean your signature."

She placed the object down on his desk, leaning back into her seat once more to cross her legs, returning to her original position, "One less obstacle was my thinking. Why start a Monday on a mountain of paperwork?"

 
Brian had to admit that he was pleasantly surprised at how well organized Eleanor was.

The woman had everything he needed already prepared, and taking the file, Brian nodded to himself. Her handwriting was neat, she had sticky notes on the different files, adding things that seemed important, and her posture and overall appearance told Brian that she wasn't fucking around.

This girl was serious about her job, and that made a grin spread on Brian's face as he examined her paperwork.

"You know, you're the first Agent ever that came in here and already had everything in order... I'm honestly very happy about that. I hate the whole paperwork thing... really annoys me sometimes."

Taking out the paperwork he needed, Brian reached for the folder on the edge of his desk, and adding Eleanor's file to the other ones, Brian handed her another file back after signing it for the woman. It seemed like Eleanor was still quite nervous, and leaning back in his chair, Brian examined her for a second.

She was definitely very attractive.

The thought left Brian's mind as soon as it has come up however, because this woman was his workmate, not some chick he could pick up for a quick fuck in his car. Offering her a soft smile, Brian checked over a few more things before realizing he indeed did have everything he needed from her already.

That meant that it was time to join the other guys, then.

"Alright, let's join the others then, shall we? Oh, and also, please, call me Brian. I'm not a big fan of all the sir here sir there kind of stuff. I'm not better than anyone else.

Getting up, Brian motioned for Eleonor to follow her, and leading her back to the desk where Elijah was sitting, Brian motioned for her to sit down. Her work for today was to help Elijah with whatever he needed, and smiling at her, Brian didn’t miss the look of worry the woman displayed when she saw the chaos on Elijah’s desk.

Organized chaos. All of them were that way.

“Uhm, I forgot to tell you and I noticed when I looked at your files… you seem to be very neat. We’re on the opposite side of the spectrum as you can probably see…”

Chuckling softly, Brian waited until Elijah was done with making his phone calls, and once he hung up, he looked at Eleanor and stuck out his hand to her.

“Hey, I’m Elijah… nice to meet you. Guess you’re my buddy now?”

The smile on Elijah’s face was kind, and Brian felt pleased with how well behaved he was for once. Usually, the guy didn’t waste a chance to tell a stupid joke or fuck around, and it was nice to see him behave for once, even if it was just in favor of the new squad member.

“Yeah, I’ll leave Eleanor under your wing for now while I examine the video evidence I got yesterday… and I know you guys get sick from watching that kind of stuff, so I’ll take it upon myself to do so. If you guys need me, I’ll be at my desk. Good luck, Agent Garcia. I’m sure you’ll do great.”

Offering the woman one last smile, Brian turned on his heel and made his way over to his own desk. He was sure Elijah would help Eleanor with whatever she needed, and putting on his headphones, Brian typed away on his laptop, ready to review the more than graphic video evidence that was prepared for him.

The guys didn’t have weak stomachs, not one of them, but there was just something about actually seeing the crimes that rubbed most of Brian’s squad members the wrong way. Talking about details was fine, pictures were fine, but when it came to actually watching the videos, it was usually Brian who took it upon himself. The young agent put it down to maybe being desensitized when it came to this type of stuff.

He had experienced sexual assault himself after all.

While Brian was busy stopping the video and trying to get a good screenshot of faces of suspects, Elijah was in the middle of explaining what they were currently working on to Eleanor. The girl seemed to understand everything so far, and Elijah was relieved when he handed her some pictures to review.

She seemed to be much smarter than Joe and Dan, and that was already a huge plus for Elijah.

“Okay, so like I said, we’re working on busting this sex trafficking ring. They have abducted a lot of girls and even kids and sold them off to different states and even countries, we’re not entirely sure. Our job today is to look through these surveillance camera pictures to see if we can spot anything suspicious… and then we’ll have to look at these pictures of a few girls that were killed a couple of months ago. Brian is sure that somehow the cases go hand in hand… everything clear so far? You want some coffee or a cigarette before we start?”
 





Eleanor Marie Garcia


Being thrown in at the deep end was something that Eleanor liked, a lot. She didn't want to be slowly broken into something, like had been over the countless pathways and careers she had taken. College, University, the Academy, her first case in her first team... it had all started too slowly for her liking. It was why she had the files orderly and filled in before even arriving. She wanted to hit the ground running, not be held back by something so monotonous and mundane.

While the job she had been given straight after was to help someone else, making her feel more like an assistant than anything else, Eleanor knew it would be part of her new role going forward. She would help some of her team out, and they in turn would help her. She would have her moments, Eleanor knew that.

The young agent stood from her seat as they got into it, taking a half-step forward to rest her hands on the desk space she had in front of her after putting the photos down next to each other, side by side. Her brow furrowed as she came to lean slightly over the desk and the images, studying them fervently as though trying to play 'spot the difference'.

"Oh uh... I don't smoke, but you go ahead." She lifted her head to look to Elijah, offering a faint smile. It wasn't the truth, really. She did smoke, but she preferred cigars, and they only came out after a job well done. She had her first one with her dad after helping solve her first case in the LAPD. "I-- might just get some hot water, if anything." Eleanor finally confessed, straightening up from over the desk.

Coffee was a beverage she enjoyed, but while working Eleanor preferred a cup of mint tea instead. It was a habit she got into at University, when she realised the caffeine from the coffee was hitting her at the wrong time and leaving her wide-eye awake in bed. Besides, the mint tea was less likely to stain your teeth - plus it had so many health benefits! Not to mention... it left a nicer smell on ones breath.

Reluctantly Eleanor began to pull herself away from the desk, and therefore the images that laid upon the surface. "So what makes you think the murders and your current case are related?" She questioned, curious to find out more about what she would be working on.
 
Watching Eleanor closely, Elijah smiled to himself. Her body language clearly showed that she had done this before, and scanning some pictures he had laid out in front of him, Elijah scratched his head. What exactly they were supposed to find he didn't know yet, but he trusted his own gut feeling.

He'd find something eventually, just like he always did.

"You don't smoke? Really? Jesus... you're a saint. I'll get you your hot water, then. Stay put."

Lighing a cigarette for himself as he walked towards the kettle in the front of the room, Elijah wondered how exactly Eleanor had ended up in this squad. The girl had to have made a good impression on everyone if she had gotte into this section of the FBI, but Elijah was happy to have her here. He could already tell they'd work well together.

Returning to the desk with a cup of coffee for himself and a cup of hot water for Eleanor, Elijah took a drag from his cigarette. The question the woman asked him had Elijah raise his eyebrow, and flicking off the ash of his cigarette in the ash tray beside him, Elijah offered her a soft smile.

It seemed as if Eleanor wanted to know about everything straight away, and Elijah enjoyed that kind of no bullshit attitude.

"I wouldn't have thought they are connected. Brian did. He has some sort of special sense when it comes to this type of stuff. Sometimes, it seems as if he just knows it. It's creepy but also very impressive."

Sipping his coffee, Elijah's gaze fell on his squad leader who was currently writing something down on his notepad, the sour look on his face clearly able to be seen from a mile away, and Elijah almost felt a bit bad that they always left the harsh work to Brian. However, their squad leader said he didn't mind, but sometimes, Elijah saw that it bothered him just like it bothered everyone else.

Brian just didn't like to show emotions or even worse, any weakness.

"What do you think, Eleanor? You think these cases are connected at all? I'm interested to see your take on this..."

While Elijah and Eleanor seemed to get along splendidly, Brian found himself stuck. It didn't matter how often he rewatched the damn video, nothing really stuck out to him, and after roughly an hour of his eyes being glued to the screen, Brian decided that he needed a small break.

Just to regain his sanity for a bit.

Taking off his headphones and closing his laptop for now, Brian stretched in his chair before getting up and lighting a cigarette. Walking around the room, Brian looked at what everyone else was up to, not really saying anything until Gabriel spoke up, concern written all over his features.

"You alright, boss?"

Nodding his head, Brian took another drag from his cigarette, and leaning against the desk next to Eleanor, the young Agent pinched the bridge of his nose. He was annoyed more than anything, but at the same time, Brian was glad that everyone else seemed to be making some progress.

"Yeah, I'm alright... just annoyed that these perverted fuckers filmed their snuff movie on a damn potato. It pisses me off. They gotta make our job harder than it already is... how are all of you guys doing? Are any of you making progress?"
 





Eleanor Marie Garcia


Eleanor had fetched a mint teabag from the box that was in her handbag while Elijah fetched her a mug of hot water. She gratefully took the cup from him, dropping the teabag into the steaming liquid soon after, "Thanks." She murmured, turning back to face the photos.

At his question, the young woman stood up straight, exhaling heavily as she did so, "It wouldn't be uncommon, from what I've gathered in previous research about these sorts of things." She answered diplomatically, not eager to jump right in and agree with anything until she had gathered all the facts. "It could be easy to assume that, but it's not that hard to believe that perhaps a deal went wrong or the girls... simply did the wrong thing."

A muscle in her jaw jumped at the prospect of either of her little sisters being treated in such a way, fingers tightening around the mug. If either of them went missing, she would rip apart the whole of the US to find them, that much she knew.

Soon leaning back over the table, she placed her mug down on the far end to avoid putting it down over any of the images. Eleanor leaned lower, elbow on table and head propped up on hand, until something caught her eye. Slowly, she moved to take her hand from under her head and picked up two images which held the same girl in each. The first had her with a group of girls, the second being her murder scene.

"Elijah..." She began, only to pause as Brian approached. She fell silent, allowing his concerned teammate to inquire as to if he was okay. Her own eyes ran over him, searching for the truth as to if he was actually alright. "I can take over for a bit if you want. Nothing more than a bit of shitty camera work to start your Monday." She offered, tone turning with dry amusement toward the end of her sentence, a small quirk to the corner of her lips.

However it faded at her boss' question, leaving her to remember what she had just seen. "Uh-- yeah-- yeah, take a look at this. Come here."

She motioned the two men over to a spot under a light, clearing her throat as she set the images down, "Now, look, I know they don't look alike, but stay with me here--" She pointed to the neck of a red-head in the first image, where she was gathered with a bunch of girls, obviously ready to be moved, "She's got a small cut here, look. Not sure what it is, or what it could be from, could even be a birthmark of some kind but who fucking cares because--" She then brought across the second photo, this time a blonde girl, a murder scene shot. It was a monstrous scene, with the fingerprints burned off, not that it mattered, since she still had her teeth. The hair looked like hay, brittle and damaged, and the neck held the same mark as the girl in the previous photo.

"Same girl. Only they've dyed her hair, starved her, sold her, whatever. See how there's patches of red and orange? That's a rush job that could be put down to bad bleaching."
 
Eleanor's comment about her wanting to watch the video had Brian smile softly to himself.

It was a kind gesture for sure, and even though Brian knew she was more than capable of watching stuff like that and digesting it, he didn't want to put her through seeing these kinds of things just yet. Brian didn't want to scare her off or make her feel overly disgusted on her first day, and the fact that it was violence against women was definitely the primary factor of why Brian didn't want Eleanor to step up and take over his job of the day.

"Really kind of you to offer that, but I'd rather not have you exposed to that video... it's pretty vile..."

Shooting her an easy smile, Brian listened to what Eleanor had to say, and his ears perked up instantly.

She had found similarities.

Immediately reacting when Eleanor told Brian and Elijah to come closer, Brian leaned over the table, his body somewhat accidentally shielding Eleanor's. The position wasn't on purpose, and as Brian focused on what the woman told him and leaned closer, he completely forgot about personal space and anythibg regarding it.

Looking at the evidence closely, Brian let out a breath, the similarities sticking out to him clear as day now as well. Letting a hand run through his head, Brian pulled away from Eleanor, his gaze still lingering on the evidence he had just seen.

"Huh, you have a good eye... you're right. It's the same girl. Wouldn't have noticed that botched hair dying job right away like you did. Good job, Agent Garica."

Looking at Elijah, Brian could see the amazement on his friend's face as well, and smirking to himself, Brian rubbed his hands together. They had just gotten their first lead of the case, and the excitement that was starting to bubble up within the agent was quite visible. It was finally time to compare things, and Brian was almost a bit too happy when he walked over to his desk and pulled out the file of the murdered girl in question.

"Alright, let's see..."

Placing the file on the desk in front of Elijah and Eleanor, Brian could see that the other guys had also surrounded the table, eager to finally have at least a small lead.

"Her name is Sasha Jefferson, sixteen years old, vanished on her way to school... body was recovered last year on June the 22nd, multiple stab wounds to the abdomen, burn marks all over her body, has been sexually assaulted prior to her killing..."

Summing up what Brian knew, he let his gaze wander a bit.

He had always been pretty suspicious about the dozens of bodies that had been found over the course of the past year, and the fact that it all really did have a tie had Brian's blood pressure rise. It wasn't just about the trafficking anymore; they had a bunch of killers on their hands as well, and just the idea of catching these motherfuckers had a fire burn deep within Brian.

Scanning Eleanor's face, who was still checking the pictures carefully, Brian had a sudden idea. If he wanted to make her feel like she was truly part of the squad now, he had to make her feel like she mattered. So what better way to do that then to let her share her opinion and approach to the case?

"As we can see on the first picture, she was part of a pretty large group... hm, Agent Garcia, what do you think we should do next?"
 





Eleanor Marie Garcia


"Just a pair of fresh eyes si--... Just a fresh pair of eyes looking over it, that's all." Eleanor shrugged, fingers gently drumming against the surface as she continued to look at the images. She had been aware of how close her new boss had been stood, so hadn't dared to move herself. She didn't need to be knocking back into him or stabbing his foot with her heel. That would have definitely have soured the moment.

Only when he pulled away did Eleanor step back from the table, straightening from how she was partially bent over the desk. Her hand reached into her trouser pocket to pull out a small metal tub of lip balm, where she quickly applied some before shoving it back into her pocket, finger used to apply to balm wiping against the inside of the pocket.

Her arms folded across her chest as she listened to the trauma the poor girl went through before she died, unable to hide the disgust that rippled across her features. The girl had been younger than Eleanor's baby sister, once more driving home the sickening imagination of if that had been Chloe. Her eyes dropped to her feet as she attempted to rid herself of the thought, knowing she couldn't afford to be thinking of Daisy or Chloe at any point on this case. She couldn't let it get personal, that's when it got dangerous.

That being said, she knew she would be ringing home that night to check on her baby sister, and then ringing Daisy who was away at college.

Eleanor forced herself to look back to the images she had been checking, hand reaching up to scratch lightly at her head after she realised she couldn't run her fingers through her hair like she usually would since it was tied back. Brian's question came as a bit of a surprise, leaving her to lift her head and blink at him.

Being new, she knew there would be two ways her commanding agent would deal with her. Either leave her alone and ask the questions of the other guys, or instantly get her involved and ask things of her. It seemed like it would be the latter.

"I... would see who she had been hanging out with in the lead up to the disappearance. School friends, people from any clubs she's in... any youth groups, underage parties. See if any of them had been reported as missing too. Then I'd look into those youth groups, social clubs, the clubs that might do underage nights. See if any of the other girls that had been abducted or murdered frequented those areas too."

Eleanor paused, cutting off her rambling response and her arms slowly folded across her chest once more, "But that's just a thought."
 
Listening to Eleanor explaining what she'd do next had Brian nod eagerly, a smirk instantly crossing his features. The girl was bright, and it seemed as if she had everything already figured out. There was almost a sense of routine when she spoke, and after she had finished speaking, Brian gave her a nod.

She had done well.

"Well, you all heard Agent Garica. What she just said is exactly what we'll do now. Elijah, you call all of the local youth clubs and hot spots where kids get together these days... Gabriel and Joe, you two will check up with the LAPD and get as much information on this girl as possible. I want everything, from her friend's and parent's names to the school she went to... all the testemonies of the people that knew her, too."

Walking back and forth in the front of the room, Brian's mind was racing as he quickly put teams of people together and tried to think of anything that would be of importance at the moment. They had to act fast now, and any lead was better than staying in the dark for too long, even if they sometimes went nowhere.

"Dan and Jordan, you'll get in contact with the forensic department, we need to have another look at all of the DNA tests done on her. Agent Garcia, you'll come with me. We'll go to the archives and collect every single cold case we have of girls between the ages of twelve and twenty who have been killed around last year under the same circumstances."

Facing the other agents again, Brian was determined to finally get somewhere. Shooting them all a grin, the young agent put out his cigarette, his energy suddenly having returned, and motioning for Eleanor to come to him, Brian was ready to go in an instant.

"Alright, let's do this, everyone. If you may join me, Agent Garcia? Time to catch these motherfuckers!"

A chuckle ripped through the group of men who all seemed to be equally as eager as Brian to finally have something do to besides reviewing evidence, and waiting until Eleanor had joined him, Brian led her out of the room and down the hallway to the elevator.

"Alright, so you and me will go down to the archives and we'll probably stay there for a while... it'll take some time until we have all the files collected. Sound good to you?"

After pushing the button to the elevator, Brian pushed his hands into the pockets of his suit, scanning Eleanor's face. For some reason, the girl was incredibly hard for Brian to read, but he was sure the longer they'd work together, the better their relationship would get.

First days were always hard.

However, it was still incredibly awkward right now, and staring at the little red numbers counting down on the display of the elevator rather impatiently, Brian didn't know if he should initiate a conversation or not. Would he come on too strong if he just started firing questions at her? Brian wasn't sure, and glancing at her, the young male decided to screw it.

Everything would be better than this awkward silence.

"So, it seemed to me that you have a lot of experience already. Worked with law enforcement before this?"
 





Eleanor Marie Garcia


"L... LAPD?" Eleanor repeated, but it was quiet, too quiet to be heard over Brian's sudden listing of jobs that needed to be done and teams that were going to be put together.

She hadn't realised that the case was literally so close to home. She always knew that LA was rife with crime, it was why she joined the police department in the first place. Her own personal experience had made her determined to try and make her own dent in the world of crime, but hearing that these girls had been potentially taken as well as found in LA...

A phone call was definitely being made to home and Daisy at the end of the day.

Not that she would disclose any information about the case, of course. But she would at least tell her sister, who she could see rolling her eyes in her mind at that moment, to never go out anywhere in the dark alone. She didn't want either of her sisters ending up on a case file photo.

Her name being spoken jolted Eleanor from her anxiety-driven thoughts, and soon she was in the elevator with her boss.

The young woman pushed her hands into her trouser pockets as the elevator hummed around them, taking them down to the archives. Her own mind was wondering if she ought to start a conversation, or leave things be. It was the first day after all, and she wasn't sure if a rookie awkwardly striking up a conversation was exactly what her boss would want. He might want to stay focused, especially since he hadn't actually spoken about anything but the case ever since she handed him her transfer file.

His question came just as Eleanor was clearing her throat, leaving her to look across - and slightly up - at him as she tried to register what he had just asked her. When his words finally came back to her, she smiled faintly, shrugging bashfully, "The LAPD actually... two years before I got the letter about joining the Academy... my... uh-- my dad is a detective there at the moment, actually."
 
As the elevator descended down to the basement, Brian was almost sure Eleanor wasn't going to answer his question at all. He didn't blame the girl, because it had to be pretty awkward to have small talk with her new boss while stuck in an evelator. Brian almost felt a bit stupid for even initiating a conversation, but when Eleanor answered, he had to admit he was pleased.

And pretty surprised.

"Oh, you worked at the LAPD? We have a pretty close working relationship with them... they help us and we help them... that kind of deal. What's your dad's name? I'm sure I know him, or know of him at the very least."

Smiling at Eleanor, Brian could already feel a bit of the awkwardness leaving the air around them, and once the elevator stopped, Brian walked down the hallway with Eleanor. Greeting a few Agents who came their way, Brian soon made his way to a brown wood door with the label "Archived Files" on it.

"Alright, let's see... I'm sure I have the key somewhere-"

Checking all of his pockets, Brian soon found the small key, safely tucked away in the inner pocket of his suit jacket, and fishing it out, the young agent swiftly unlocked the door. Opening it, he held the door open for Eleanor to step in before him, and turning on the light, Brian sighed the second he saw the mountains of files.

"Sacré bleu..."

They'd definitely be here for a while.

"Oh man, look at all these. You might wonder why we have so many physical files instead of digital, and the answer is that it's the safest way to prevent leakage of information. If it's not on a computer, it's can't be leaked..."

Frowning softly, Brian walked further into the room, the slightly overwhelmed look clearly detectable on his face as he shrugged off his suit jacket. The colorful sleeves of tattoos the young agent had were soon revealed when Brian rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt, and turning back to Eleanor with a frown, Brian couldn't help his sour tone.

"Either way though, I'm starting to regret that I ever thought no digital files were a good idea... but I guess it is what it is now."

Turning to read some labels on the shelves around them, Brian thankfully soon found the section they were supposed to be at, and taking a breath through his nose, the young agent took out a stack of files and started to look through them carefully.

"So, while we're here, I guess we might as well get to know each other a bit more. Trust me, this will get real boring real fast otherwise."
 





Eleanor Marie Garcia


Eleanor fought back a smirk that began to form at Brian's French cursing, head turning away from him to look to the left of the area, eyes scanning over the countless boxes that lined the wall. She had thought she had detected the hints of an accent, but the swear only confirmed her suspicions. She wondered what part of France he was from, if he was born there, or had simply moved around a lot. Either way, she was certain it would come in handy, especially if he spoke the language.

Besides, isn't French one of the sexiest languages in the world?

"You know... these could still be leaked." Eleanor pointed out as she walked around the room, fingers reaching out to skim over files that were left on the table she passed, "I mean, it'd be a lot more work - having to steal the key, make a copy, get the original one back to you. Then get down here, break in, find the file they want without simply hitting 'Search'. But a little photo out on the big wide web... still a leak."

Her heels sounded loud in the silence of the archives, clicking and clacking almost obnoxiously against the concrete flooring. Perhaps she should have worn less noticeable shoes for her first day. Too late now.

After he found what he was looking for, Eleanor rounded the table she was stood near to join him at his. She began to reach in, helping him take out the files from the box in turn, before picking the first one from the top to flip open. It was extremely quiet, literally to the point she could hear each and every breath he took in and released. She didn't even want to know how many feet below the surface they were.

Eleanor then snorted softly, eyebrow raising, "Trust me, you'll be just as bored finding out about me as you would be just sifting through these files," she pulled her gaze up from the file to look at her boss, "I've not got a very exciting life... and my dad's name is David? David Garcia."
 
Skimming through the files, Brian listened to Eleanor carefully as soon as her soft voice broke the heavy silence between them. He was glad that she wanted to talk to him, because otherwise, Brian would have probably gone insane just based on how quiet it was down here. The young agent was pretty sure Eleanor could hear his own thoughts at this point, so some small talk was more than welcome.

Her little monologue about how the files could still be leaked had Brian raise his eyebrow, his bottom lip stuck between his teeth before he released it again. If the young agent didn't know any better, he'd assume Eleanor was out to get some info on some important cases and sell that very info to the press, but then again, she was just thinking about possibilities.

Either way, Brian couldn't help but let a suggestive comment slip past his lips.

"Huh, interesting... almost sounds like you're here to get your hands on some top secret information. That would be a shame though, because I'm not this nice if you're handcuffed to a table in the interrogation room with me..."

Letting his dark eyes scan Eleanor's face, Brian let out a soft chuckle when she mentioned that her life was far from exciting. That was adulthood for everyone; work and sleep, so Brian wasn't surprised that she thought she had nothing to show for.

"You know, I think everyone says that, but once you get to know small details about another person, they are far from boring, and vice versa. First impressions aren't always true. And Dave is your dad? I've spoken to him a lot of times... he's a really cool guy. Knows what he's doing."

Letting his fingers trace over a particularly heavy file, Brian opened it and scanned the pages. It was the first file that actually seemed to fit what they were looking for, and putting it aside carefully, Brian went on to the next file. He had made himself comfortable on the floor, his back leaned against one of the shelves as he did his work, and looking over at Eleanor, Brian cleared his throat. He didn't really know where he should go with the conversation, so Brian just settled for basic questions.

"So, you have worked together with your dad... what made you change that? Why did you leave the LAPD?"

Tearing his gaze away from the file on his lap once more, Brian looked up at Eleanor, and offering her a soft smile, the agent wasn't sure if he had asked an intrusive question or not. It wasn't like Eleanor was forced to talk to him about stuff that wasn't about work, but for some reason, Brian always liked to get to know his co-workers on a bit of a more personal level.

It was easier that way sometimes, especially because trust was something Brian highly valued, and that could only be obtained by having at least a superficial friendship.

"I used to work in the Orange County Police Department before I got promoted... so I guess we both were cops before, which is interesting. I prefer my job at the FBI, though... I live and breathe for it. It's all I ever wanted to be achieve in all honesty. Don't have much else I can say that about."
 





Eleanor Marie Garcia


Wait.

Did he...?

What?

Pages in the file paused at her superior's comment, Eleanor's mind racing a mile a minute to figure out if he was really being that suggestive... or if it was just her filthy mind. So, the young agent decided to fight fire with fire, uncertain as to if it was a test of some kind or if it was truly him making a conversation... of some kind.

"It would be a shame, you're right. However there's one thing you're forgetting, you would have to catch me first... and I don't make a habit of being easy to pin down."

Eleanor kept her eyes on the file as she replied, even turning to give him her back and leaning against the side of the table, just up the table and opposite him. She wasn't about to show him any expression or reaction to her own comment, especially since she was uncertain as to if it was a test or not. Allow him to take the comment in his own way, but Eleanor wasn't about to show any discomfort toward a comment she didn't even know for certain how it was supposed to come across.

As the conversation continued, she pushed herself away from the table to hop up onto the other table, fingers continuing to leaf through the file. Exhaling heavily, she closed it and put it down beside herself, eyes finally raising to look at him.

"I left because I got the letter." She shrugged, hopping back down and causing a louder 'clack' from her heels to echo through the small space. She reached for another file, "Dad and I often argued about me being in law enforcement, considering all he's seen. I think he wanted to protect me from it... but I studied Criminology at University... I was hooked."

Eleanor moved around to his side of the table, hopping up on there instead now. From there she could see him but also reach the files.

"So French? You just cursed in French. I'm assuming from that and your faint accent that you've... either lived there at some point or were born there or have family there?" She asked, eyes flickering between his and the file, "I've never been outside of the US... I've fancied travelling though. Do you go there often?"
 
Brian couldn't help but smirk at Eleanor shooting a suggestive comment of her own right back at Brian, and glancing over, the young agent was almost disappointed to see that she had turned away from him. Had he made her feel weird? That hadn't been Brian's intention, but at the same time, he had a feeling that Eleanor could take a joke and even a bit of suggestive talk without being offended.

Either way, Brian wasn't going to push her too far. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable, he just wanted to test the water.

"Oh really? I don't need to pin people down to make them a shivering mess, though. Comes with the routine, trust me."

Brian voice was low, his tone almost a bit too casual for what he had just said. Letting the comment sink in a bit and being quiet, Brian added three more files to his rapidly growing pile of files they'd need to dissect later on today. He was glad when he saw that Eleanor didn't let herself be distracted by anything though, and after the woman had settled down on the desk closest to Brian and answered some of his questions, the agent nodded.

It had been the same way for him when he had joined the FBI, minus a concerned dad looking out for him. Brian's father never gave a single shit about him, and taking a deep breath to keep the memories from flooding his brain, Brian closed his eyes for a few seconds.

He didn't need a reminder of what his father had done to him. Not right now, anyway.

"I see... it was the same way for me, to be honest. I got the letter and never looked back. I also understand why Dave didn't want you to join law enforcement, but at the same time, he probably saw that he can't keep you from doing it. I think you made the right call. You have talent."

Adding yet another file to the ever growing pile, Brian's ears perked up when Eleanor mentioned France and his accent. Nobody had ever really asked Brian about it this directly before, and looking up at Eleanor, Brian nodded softly, a small smile on his lips.

It was only fair if he answered a few of Eleanor's questions as well after having asked her so much about herself.

"Ha, you picked up on that fast. Yeah, I was born in France, in Lyon, actually. I moved to the States when I was around ten though, and I've lived here with my mother ever since. She's American, so I had dual citizenship until I joined the FBI. My accent is still noticable because I speak a lot of French with her, it's my mother tongue after all..."

Trailing off, Brian let a hand run through his hair. He didn't know why he felt the need to tell Eleanor about his mother, but then again, the extra information didn't hurt anyone. Clearing his throat, Brian let his gaze linger on Eleanor for a little as he spoke up again.

"You've never been out of the US? I mean, Europe is nice... but I don't really have the time to go there a lot anymore. Sometimes I visit, but it's far and few between."
 





Eleanor Marie Garcia


"Well... it takes a lot to cause me to become a shivering mess, and routine certainly isn't a way to go about it... sir."

Once more the retort came without Eleanor even bothering to look up, to used was she to seemingly inappropriate or even sexual banter after it had been thrown about in the Academy and at University. Besides, despite living with sisters, she had become accustomed to the male-centric work environment that came from working as a detective and then being in the Academy. As a result, Eleanor even enjoyed it, finding that she didn't need to worry about curbing her curses or watering down her quips.

The young woman shrugged at the compliment that was provided to her, always having found it awkward or difficult to take them. What did one say in return? Thank you? That the person was great too? She had no idea, and as such, it was clear to see. Eleanor just didn't know how to respond to a compliment, so she remained silent and allowed Brian to continue.

"That's pretty cool," she answered conversationally, putting down the second file she had flipped through and moving onto her third and fourth, "I mean, I would love to be able to speak another language but unfortunately I was never any good." She confessed, free hand that wasn't holding the file reaching up to rub the back of her neck.

The third and fourth file were placed down on top of the first two, leaving her rifling through the box for a few more files. "Yeah well... my mom's a teacher and dad being a detective... it's hard to drag them away from work. Then there's my sister whose super competitive with her tennis so we can't go away during that season neither... let's just say there're lot of variables. I'm waiting until Daisy becomes a pro and then I'll guilt-trip her into taking me on her fancy European tours." Eleanor smirked, "I'll tell her she can just say I'm her security escort."
 
Letting Eleanor's comment about not being easily turned into a shivering mess hang in the air, Brian decided to let the topic go. She could definitely stand her own ground, and while Brian's intention had been to make a bit of a questionable joke to dee her reaction, Eleanor had proven to him once again that she didn't back down, even when men tried to throw stupid comments her way.

That fact alone had Brian feel more at ease, given the fact that lunch break was approaching.

Some of the Agents in this facility had an ego so fucking big, Brian sometimes wondered how they even allowed themselves to get spoken to by other people. He didn't want Eleanor to fall prey to any of those idiots, and if she would have reacted overly shy to Brian's shit talking, she would have been highly uncomfortable once she met other Agents in this department. They treated women like meat sometimes, and Brian fucking hated it.

Thankfully though, Eleanor had a sharp tongue, and Brian was sure she'd be fine. Plus, if a problem would arise, Brian wouldn't be far away, anyway.

Listening to Eleanor talk about her family as he looked through the last coupled files in the box he currently had, Brian nodded. It made sense that her and her family never really had time to go abroad, but then again, it was a shame that Eleanor had never really seen any other places on this planet besides the USA.

"I see... well, my... creator is French, so that's why I was born and raised there. Otherwise I don't think I would have travelled a lot, either. If your sister really becomes a tennis pro, you could easily go with her, I see how that would be a good plan. Less expensive too, I'm sure."

The comment about his own father was something Brian really couldn't stop, even if he tried. He simply didn't see that man as a real person with real feelings anymore, and calling his anything other than his creator seemed out of place. Brian didn't want to dwell on memories right now, though, because he had to focus on other stuff.

Shooting Eleanor a soft smile, Brian checked his watch, and seeing that they only had five minutes left until their two hour break, Brian put the files aside and stood up. Dusting off his pants, the young agent debated whether or not they could just leave the files down here, but then again, he had the key, so nobody else was going to walk in here today.

"Alright, it's time for lunch. We can just leave this stuff here in the meantime. You ready to go? Or do you still have stuff to finish up?"
 





Eleanor Marie Garcia


At the title given to his father as 'creator', Eleanor looked up from the file, expression neutral instead of the frown she wished to portray. She assumed it was his father, considering he had called his mom as such. She could repeat the word, and ask him just why he used such a title for someone that was a member of his family. However, she knew better, given the choice and tone of voice which seemed strained when he used it.

Instead, she allowed her gaze to flicker over her boss, as if trying to work out a puzzle she just couldn't seem to grasp. Her interest was caught, but she wasn't rude enough to press him for more information when it was clearly a topic he wasn't fond of.

When he looked up to smile at her, Eleanor was quick to give her own in return, turning her gaze back onto the file as he gave his attention to his watch. She wasn't sure what time it was, or how much had passed. She would never have thought that it had flown by so quickly, so she wouldn't have expected him to be standing up ready to go for lunch.

"What-- now?" She questioned, frowning as she looked up and glanced to her own watch - or rather fitbit... it was important to keep track of certain things!

Eleanor placed her own files on the table, shaking her head in amusement, "That was far too quick." She drawled, hopping off the surface of the table, "I'm ready to go, I'm starved, actually - I'm not a big breakfast person, usually I skip it. So by lunch I'm ready to eat a fucking horse." She grinned, probably the first expression that didn't hold an ounce of seriousness or professionalism.
 
The grin Eleanor displayed suddenly was unexpected.

It was carefree, almost like a child in a candy store, and smiling to himself, Brian led the woman out of the door. After locking it, the pair made their way back to the elevator, and pressing the button, Brian debated whether or not to tell Eleanor about the other agents and their sometimes very questionable behavior. It would probably be better if she had at least received a warning of some sort, and licking his lips, Brian turned to face her, careful about how he worded his next sentence.

"Before we go into the cafeteria, the people in this building... it's all very much like high school to be honest. Different cliques, different personalities... and some teams think they are better than others. Fuck, let me just get to the point. Some of them are a bunch of sexist pieces of shit."

As the elevator halted to a stop, Brian caught Eleanor's gaze, and giving her a soft look, he let his hand run through his hair before stepping out of the steel cubicle and into the hallway.

"Just be careful... don't let anyone fuck with you or treat you like you're less important."

Motioning for her to stick to him, Brian soon led Eleanor into the cafeteria, and it was packed. Agents of all ages, shapes and sizes were running around, picking out their food, and letting his gaze wander for a bit, Brian soon spotted Elijah and the rest of his guys at a table far back. Leading Eleanor there, Brian waved to the other guys, happy that all of them seemed to still be in amazing moods.

"There you two are! We were already wondering if Brian had abducted you!"

Rolling his eyes at Elijah, who immediately sat down next to Eleanor, Brian couldn't help but let a smile graze his lips. It was amazing to see that all of them already got along so great, and leaning down to Eleanor, Brian handed her one of the small menu cards on the table.

"Pick out what you'd like to eat, and I'll get it for you. You can just stay seated here with the rest of the guys."

Offering Eleanor a soft smile when he got up, Brian was just about to turn on his heel and check what options for food there were today when a body blocked his way. Scanning the face of the slightly bulky, blonde agent who now stood in front of him, Brian gave the shorter male a cold look, and raising his eyebrow, Brian already expected the worst.

Agent Baker had had it out for Brian for a while now after all.

"Look who we have here! The mighty ‘Special Victims Unit’ paying us normal agents a visit. It's rare that you guys visit the cafeteria these days. You sure you want to eat with lesser beings like the rest of us, Haner?"

A smirk crossed Brian’s face at the other male’s words, and the young agent’s comeback came faster than Agent Baker had expected, given his sour reaction to it.

“Maybe if you’d talk less shit and actually work, you wouldn’t still be stuck on square one, Baker.”

“Take that back, you fucking brat!”

Rolling his eyes at the other male, Brian simply walked past him, ignoring whatever came out of his mouth. Agent Baker had wanted the position Brian currently was in for more than two years now - even before Brian had been promoted, but for some reason, he hadn't made the cut. Naturally he let his anger and hurt about the situation out in only one way: trying to get under Brian's skin.

However, Agent Baker would have to think of better insults if he wanted to annoy Brian.

While Brian tried to get Agent Baker away from him, Elijah and the rest of the agents watched the scene unfold. Gabriel leaned over to Eleanor, his voice low as he addressed the woman, and Elijah kept his gaze on the scene unfolding before them – just in case Baker decided to cross a line and get physical with their squad leader again.

"That's Agent Baker... he has it out for Brian because he didn't get his promotion and Brian got it instead... he's a moron. Best to stay out of his way."
 
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